U23s crumble at Man City

Manchester City U23s 4 - 1 Everton U23s

Everton U23s are at the Academy Stadium in Manchester tonight, taking on their City counterparts without regulars Gordon, Evans, Feeney and Gibson in this Premier League 2 match-up.

The home side took the lead in the first half when Branthwaite's headed clearance was returned with interest, into the Everton goal.

Branthwaite would redeem himself before the end of the game, powering home a fine header to get Everton on the scoresheet. But it was well and truly a lost cause at that point after City had run riot earlier in the second half, banging in three goals in quick succession to end the match as a contest.

Reader Comments (22)

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Brent Stephens 1Posted
31/01/2020 at
19:22:32

I'm wondering what the formation is from this team line-up.

Is that a 5-4-1 with Quirk on his own upfront? Simms on the bench??

Peter Gorman 2Posted
31/01/2020 at
19:37:10

Brent, I think it is 4 at the back with Branthwaite holding midfield, apparently.

Anyhoo, they are 1-0 down. Not the most experienced back line tonight.

Dave Abrahams 3Posted
31/01/2020 at
19:48:16

The U23s are losing 1-0 to Man City. They should have made it 1-1 just after Citys goal.

I dont know how they got to Citys penalty area because we seem to be playing a 1-5-5 system, another cunning plan from Everton... we are full of them, not many of them work.

Brent Stephens 4Posted
31/01/2020 at
19:50:52

Dave, 1-5-5??

Mike Oates 5Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:13:50

Brent - There isn't one forward in our team!! Both Simms and Mapala on the bench. Haven't got a clue what Unsworth is up to - formation 5:5

Brent Stephens 6Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:17:12

Bizarre, Mike. Is he trying to make some point?

Dave Abrahams 7Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:22:01

Brent (4), it's now 2-0 after 58 minutes, I think he will now bring Simms and Dobbin on, a bit late if you asked me.

Brent Stephens 8Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:26:51

0-4!

Dave Abrahams 9Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:28:27

It's now 4-0, Braaf is tearing us apart, now got a hat trick, Simms and Mampala now on. Simms has gone in goal and the other lad has reinforced the defence...

I made the last two bits up, but wouldn't be surprised if it was true, the way Unsworth has set them up tonight.

Brent Stephens 10Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:28:37

Mampala and Simms now on. Very adventurous! Cant understand the starting lineup.

Brent Stephens 11Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:29:45

Dave, you had me going for a nanosecond with 'Simms in goal'.

Dave Abrahams 12Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:30:58

Brent, and you had the audacity to question my 1-5-5 formation, how bleedin dare you!!!

Brent Stephens 13Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:32:20

Touché. Thats me taught.

Robert Tressell 14Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:33:52

Sign Braaf. We have till 11 o'clock.

Brent Stephens 15Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:47:15

Branthwaite goal. First of many?

Dave Abrahams 16Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:47:57

Branthwaite has made it 4-1 with an header, get in lad with your first goal for the club.

Brent Stephens 17Posted
31/01/2020 at
20:52:21

This 1-5-5 is starting to work, Dave!

Peter Gorman 18Posted
31/01/2020 at
21:05:02

Not a massive surprise the result, having released, sold or loaned the whole team and its dog. But Baningime and Adeniran can't really afford a bad game if they hope to force their way into first-team selection.

I hope they didn't.

Dave Abrahams 19Posted
31/01/2020 at
21:18:38

Brent (17) I told you early on we had a cunning plan!!

By the way Rooney has just scored with a very good free kick, when the game stops for free kicks Wayne is in his element, when the game starts moving he struggles.

Justin Doone 20Posted
31/01/2020 at
23:06:03

It sounds a strange team selection and formation and we got what the negative tactics deserved.

It's easier to win if you can score goals. It's easier to score goals if you attack. It's easier to attack if you have creative players going forward or at least a target man to get on the end of something.

Dick Fearon 21Posted
31/01/2020 at
23:07:34

Dave @19, If that cunning plan was aimed at getting City to be overconfident it was a brilliant success.

Phill Thompson 22Posted
01/02/2020 at
09:24:02

The most bizarre set up I have seen at this level. Adeniran on the left Quirk on the right, nobody in the middle until Denny plodded forward to join them. No potency in attack until Simms came on. Within the first 5 minutes City settled into their plan of quick sharp football, dominating the midfield and for 40 minutes Adeniran and Quirk were out of the game and wasted. They were so superior at times it was embarrassing, and that formation was a real shame for the likes of Beni and Adeniran who had little chance to shine. Tyrer was easily our best player.

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